ML1 — Origins of yoga
Level: 1 Beginner | Duration: 10 minutes | Type: Conceptual LearnDash location: Course → Lesson 1 → Topic 1
Learning objective
By the end of this micro-lesson you will be able to describe where yoga comes from and explain why it has endured for thousands of years.
Concept
Yoga is one of the oldest known practices in human history, originating in northern India more than 5,000 years ago. The word yoga comes from the Sanskrit root “yuj” meaning to yoke or unite — referring to the union of mind, body, and spirit.
The earliest references to yoga appear in the Rigveda, a collection of ancient sacred texts. Over centuries yoga evolved through several distinct periods. The pre-classical period developed foundational ideas about ritual and meditation. The classical period gave us the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali — a systematic guide to yoga practice compiled around 400 CE that described yoga as eight interconnected limbs. The post-classical period expanded yoga into physical disciplines, and the modern period brought yoga to the West in the late 19th and 20th centuries.
Today yoga is practised by an estimated 300 million people worldwide. It has adapted to modern life while retaining its core purpose — to cultivate awareness, reduce suffering, and connect the individual to something larger than themselves.
Key point
Yoga is not a religion. It is a practical system for human development that has been refined over millennia. Anyone can practise regardless of background, belief, or physical condition.
Common misconception
Yoga is not just stretching. Physical postures are one element of a much broader system that also includes breathing practices, concentration, ethics, and meditation. The postures you see in most modern classes represent just one of Patanjali’s eight limbs.
Self-check
Before moving on, answer this in your own words: what does the word “yoga” mean, and approximately how old is the practice?
Reflection prompt
What drew you to yoga? What are you hoping to find in your practice?